Chemical reaction control



Patented Apr. 21,1942

CHEMICAL REACTION CONTROL Charles L. Thomas, Chicago, Ill., assignor to Universal Oil Products Company, Chicago, 111., a corporation of Delaware No Drawing. Application July Serial No. 344,375

Claims.

This invention, which relates to improved material for heat transfer media, is a continuationin-part of my co-pending application, Serial 274,976, filed. May 22, 1939. More particularly it relates to improved materials for the storin and utilization of the heat evolved in an exothermic reaction for carrying out endothermic reactions. The invention relates especially to the use of low melting mixtures of metal halides.

The invention is particularly useful when employed in connection with reactions wherein the exothermic reaction and'the endothermic reaction are of the same order of magnitude insofar as heat evolution and consumption are concerned, and wherein the temperatures at which these reactionstake place are within the same approximate range.

Among the types of processes in which the I present invention is usefully employed are catalytic cracking, catalytic dehydrogenation, cyclization of aliphatic hydrocarbons, etc. All of these reactions are endothermic in character and dur-' ing the course of the conversions are accompanied by thedeposition or non-volatile carbonaceous material on the catalytic masses .used to supplying or removing the heat needed or evolved in catalytic reactions comprising a mixture of assist the conversion. It is common practice to remove the carbonaceous deposits from the catalyst surfaces by heating the catalytic masses at temperatures in excess of 500 C. in the presence of oxygen-containing gases, whereby the carbon is oxidized to carbon monoxide and carbon dioxide. This reaction is accompanied by an evolution of heat which must be conducted from the system to prevent damage to both the equipment ried out for another definite period of time, which may be the same as that for processing or may be diiierent. In many instances, apparatus is arranged in duplicate so that the reactivation step is carried out in one apparatus while the/- processing step is being carried out in acompanion apparatus. In other types of operation,

the cycle is carried out in a single reactor, wherein the process period and regeneration period are alternated at regular intervals.

In one specific embodiment the present invention comprises heat exchange media useful in The following is a list of some saltmixtures temperatures when not in actual use. melting point is too high, difficulties may arise aluminum chloride and an anhydrous bi-valent metallic halide, said mixture having a meltin point below that at which the reaction in which it is to be used occurs and preferably 450C. 4 The mixtures used in the present invention below andwhich may comprise eutectics as well as 1 other mixtures should desirably have the following characteristics: a

(1) A low melting point whereby they can be maintained in the liquid state at relatively low If the either in pumping or in otherwise handling, due to freezing. The melting point must necessarily be well below the temperature at which they are used.

(2) The salt mixture should be thermally stable v (3) They should be stable in contact with air.

or minor amounts of moisture, and should not form high melting products in contact with these materials at ordinary or elevated temperatures for long periods of time. i

(4) The mixtures should be non-corrosive to ordinary steel or ferro-alloy equipment. This is,

of course, essential both from the standpoint of the equipment involved. and loss of chemicals which might occur due to failure of the equip-' I ment during the process.

(5) The constituents should not react with explosive violence with hydrocarbons in case, of accidental contact therewith such as might be caused by failure of the equipment, due to contamination of the salt mixture with organic materials under any circumstances.

(6) The constituents of the mixture should be relatively inexpensive.

('1) The boiling point should .be well above the temperatures likely to be reached during any step of the process in which it is employed. Likewise, the vapor pressure should be lowso that .high pressures need not be applied to maintain the material in substantially liquid form.

(8) The material should have high specific heat, giving good heat storage capacity, and high degree of heat conductivity.

(9) It should be relatively non-poisonous and non-corrosive to the skin so that it does not introduce undue hazards during handling;

, of a molten salt from one to the other.

comprised within the scope of the invention, together with their melting points:

Salt Mol gig? Aluminum chloride+ gg g cuprous chloride 8 175 Manganese chloride+ I aluminum chloride 84 185 Magnesium chloride+ 15 4 aluminum chloride 6 186 ing the other requirements-of the heat exchangemedium are preferred for the present invention.

The above tabulation is given to illustrate materials which may be used according to the present process, but should not be construed as limiting it to the exact materials given or to the exact proportions given for the combinations set forth.

The relatively low melting points of these mixtures permit their being maintained in liquid form by moderate heating, and in many cases high pressure steam is sutficient so that the danger of freezing of lines, and solidification of the salt in pumps and other parts of the equipment is minimized by the relatively simple procedure of jacketing the parts containing the molten salt and 'circulatinga heated medium. I

The apparatus which may be used is not a special feature of the invention, but may comprise any suitable type of equipment wherein a catalytic reaction involving an endothermic reaction may be carried out simultaneously with the carrying out of an exothermic reaction, and permitting the transfer of heat through the medium This may comprise separate reactors which are operated in cycles of alternating periods, and wherein the molten salt surrounds the tubes or chambers wherein the catalyst is disposed, means being provided for the pumping of the molten salt from a region of high temperature to a region of lower temperature, and vice versa. In another type of equipment, the reactor may comprise a multiplicity of tubes containing catalytic masses, the tubes being arranged so that a part are in the process stage while the remainder are in the reactivation stage. The heat exchange medium surrounds the tubes and is circulated by mechanical means. Another type of reactor may employ chambers, normally operated in pairs,

wherein the catalyst mass is disposed. The heat exchange medium is circulated through tubes passing through the catalyst bed, andthe molten salt from one reactor to another. Additional heat may be supplied or removed from the heat exchange medium by passage of a portion of the molten salt through heaters or coolers as may be desired.

Although the mixtures described herein are particularly useful in connection with catalytic reactions, it is intended that they shall be used as thermophoric materials generally.

I claim as my invention:

1. In processes for utilizing the heat evolved during exothermic reaction for the carrying out of an endothermic reaction by the circulation of a heat exchange medium, the improvement which comprises using a mixture of aluminum chloride with an anhydrous halide of a bi-valent metal as the heat carrying medium, said mixture having a melting point below 450 C.

2. In processes for utilizing the heat of reaction in an exothermic reaction occurring at a temperature in excess of about 500 C. to supply the heat for an endothermic reaction occurring at a temperature in excess of approximately 550, C., the improvement comprising the use of a mixture of aluminum chloride with an anhydrous halide of a bi-valent metal, said mixture having a melting point below 450 C. as a heat exchange medium.

3. In processes for utilizing the heat of reaction from an exothermic reaction for carrying out an endothermic catalytic reaction occurring at a substantially lower temperature, the improvement which comprises the use of a'mixtureof aluminum chloride and an anhydrous halide of a bi-valent metal as a heat exchange medium, said mixture melting substantially below the temperature at which said endothermic reaction occurs.

4. In a process for utilizing the heat evolved during the reactivation of a carbonized catalytic mass for carrying out an endothermiccatalytic reaction, the improvement which comprises using a mixture of aluminum chloride and an anhydrous halide of a bi-valent metal as a heat carrying medium, said mixture melting below about 450 C.

5'. In a process for utilizing the heat of reaction from an exothermic reaction for carrying.

' out an endothermic change occurring at a sub- CHARLES L. THOM'AS. 

